upgrade for access 97

[Faith]

I'm still running access 97 and am buying a new pc 64 bit windows 7. Is
there any way I can upgrade or make it possible to use this program?

Thanks

 

[Tom Wickerath]

Hi Faith,

I'm not sure if Access 97 includes any 16-bit code. If it does, then it
simply will not run on a 64-bit system. You could always purchase and install
VMWare Workstation, which allows you to create virtual machines. You will
need a licensed copy of the operating system, and any software that you
install into a virtual machine.

What identified need do you have for running a 64-bit operating system? In
general, the only way you will benefit is if the machine has LOTS of RAM
memory (ie. more than 4 GB). If you have 4 GB or less, then running 64-bit
Windows is like running a Ferrari on regular gasoline.


Tom Wickerath
Microsoft Access MVP
http://www.accessmvp.com/TWickerath/
__________________________________________

 

[Jacques Gingras AKA Tintin]

I'm still running access 97 and am buying a new pc 64 bit windows 7. Is
there any way I can upgrade or make it possible to use this program?

Thanks

 

[david]

That will be an interesting test. I had always assumed that it was
fully 32-bit --- that they had just recompiled the Win 3.1 code
with a 32 bit compilation switch set.

You may remember that A97 did have Win 3.1 code -- that was
the stuff which overloaded Terminal Services, and made Task
Manager report 99% cpu utilisation.

Instead of purchasing and installing VMWare Workstation, an
option is to use a free download of VMWare Server, VMWare
Client, or Microsoft Virtual PC. Or to get Windows 7 Professional
or Ultimate edition, which come with a licensed virtual Windows XP.

(david)

 

[Tom Wickerath]

Hi David,

Instead of purchasing and installing VMWare Workstation, an
option is to use a free download of VMWare Server, VMWare
Client, or Microsoft Virtual PC. Or to get Windows 7 Professional
or Ultimate edition, which come with a licensed virtual Windows XP.

I don't know about the possibilities of using VMWare Server or Client, but I
do know that Microsoft Virtual PC only comes in a 32-bit version, which
cannot be installed on a 64-bit version of Windows. I rather doubt that the
64-bit version of Windows 7 includes Virtual PC, since it is not available
for regular download supporting a 64-bit system.


Tom Wickerath
Microsoft Access MVP
http://www.accessmvp.com/TWickerath/
__________________________________________

 

[James A. Fortune]

Instead of purchasing and installing VMWare Workstation, an
option is to use a free download of VMWare Server, VMWare
Client, or Microsoft Virtual PC. Or to get Windows 7 Professional
or Ultimate edition, which come with a licensed virtual Windows XP.

Another virtualization option is:

http://www.virtualbox.org/

It is from Sun (Oracle). It is free for enterprise and home use.
There is a version for 64-bit systems. Note: I have not tried it.

James A. Fortune
(e-mail address removed)

 

[david]

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

There is a version of "Windows XP Mode" for Win7 64 Pro.

(david)

 

[Tom Wickerath]

Hi David,

There is a version of "Windows XP Mode" for Win7 64 Pro.

Yes, I know. The problem is that Virtual PC will not even begin to install
on a 64-bit version of Windows, even in "Windows XP Mode". I base this on a
recent e-mail communication from a good friend who tried every which way
(including using XP Mode) to install Virtual PC on his Windows 7 64-bit
machine. He was simply not able to do so. Are you saying that you have
succeeded in doing this installation?


Tom Wickerath
Microsoft Access MVP
http://www.accessmvp.com/TWickerath/
__________________________________________

 

[david]

The current version of Virtual PC runs on 64 bit Windows 7.

You can download it from the link I gave: select Professional 64 bit from
the link I gave.


You don't install Virtual PC in "Windows XP Mode".

"Windows XP Mode" <IS> Virtual PC

I think that possibly you can't use Virtual PC if you have installed
"Windows XP Mode", -- I think XP mode may capture Virtual PC.

If he was trying to install 32 bit Virtual PC inside 64 bit virtual PC, I'm
not surprised he had problems: The hypervisor requires hardware support, it
won't run inside a Virtual PC.

Also, not all current Intel chips have hardware support for the hypervisor,
if it's not supported by your hardware you can't run that kind of
virtualisation software.

(david)

 

[Tom Wickerath]

Okay, I stand corrected assuming you have done a successful installation of
Virtual PC on Windows 64-bit, which you didn't confirm yet.


Tom Wickerath
Microsoft Access MVP
http://www.accessmvp.com/TWickerath/
__________________________________________